Ctenodactylidae – Gundis
These Roly-poly rodents are commonly known as Gundi or comb rats, found in northern Asia and Africa
The moniker “Gundi” is likely, not unfamiliar if you have a soft spot in your heart for rodents. The fascinating gundi is found in rocky, dry regions. They have short, fluffy tails and stout bodies, and their legs are similarly short. Contrary to popular belief, gundis are not nocturnal and can be spotted at any time of day. They emerge from the cracks and caves in which they typically sleep around the break of dawn.
As the day progresses, they sunbathe to reach a comfortable temperature and then move back and forth between sun and shade to keep from overheating. They cluster in a few hundred or more colonies, using a wide range of calls to communicate.